Poll: Blacks See Improved Race Relations

[alienlovechild 75]

For the first time in CBS News polling history, a majority of blacks are casting race relations in the United States in a positive light.

Fifty-nine percent of African-Americans - along with 65 percent of whites - now characterize the relationship between blacks and whites in America as "good," according to a new CBS News/New York Times survey.

Less than a year ago, just 29 percent of blacks said race relations were good. The percentage of blacks who say race relations are bad, meanwhile, has dropped from 59 percent last July to 30 percent today.

Sixty-one percent of blacks say there has been real progress in getting rid of racial discrimination since the 1960s. That's up from 37 percent in December 1996. Eighty-seven percent of whites say there has been real progress since the 1960s.

Despite the increasingly positive perceptions, however, most blacks feel that discrimination lingers. Asked who has a better chance to get ahead in U.S. society, fifty-one percent of blacks said white people do. Forty-four percent said both races had equal opportunity, while just one percent said blacks had an advantage.

Perhaps surprisingly, most Americans do not directly credit President Obama for improving race relations. Fifty-nine percent of blacks and 65 percent of whites say race relations have stayed the same since Mr. Obama took office. But one in three blacks do say his presidency has meant a positive change in race relations.

Seventy-percent of African-Americans now say the country is headed in the right direction - more than twice the percentage of white Americans (34 percent) who say as much.

Back in January, just before Mr. Obama took office, only 21 percent of blacks (and 14 percent of whites) said the country was headed in the right direction.

Forty-one percent of blacks say the economy is getting better, while just 19 percent say it is getting worse. Whites, by contrast, are less optimistic, with 24 percent saying the economy is improving and 25 percent saying it is worsening.

Blacks are also overwhelmingly positive about the president's work on ending the recession and the war in Iraq, with 80 percent saying he has made progress on ending the recession and 73 percent saying he has made progress on ending the war.

Whites are somewhat less positive, with 50 percent saying the president has made progress on ending the recession and 51 percent saying he has made progress on ending the war. And while 78 percent of blacks say Mr. Obama is bringing real change to how things are done in Washington, only 42 percent of whites say the same.

Whites and blacks are split on media coverage of the president. Nearly half of the African-Americans say the media are harder on Mr. Obama than other presidents, while just 12 percent say the media are easier on him. For whites, those percentages are roughly flipped: Just 15 percent say the media are harder on Mr. Obama than other presidents, while nearly half say they are easier on him.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/27/...in4972532.shtml

[almaty 19]

interesting

[tallcoolone 102]

I don't see black and white not liking each other now of days.

What I see is Hispanic and Black that can't get along

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What I see is Hispanic and Black that can't get along

true, true

[The_Dude 1,142]

I don't see black and white not liking each other now of days.

What I see is Hispanic and Black that can't get along

Someone must not have been outside the suburbs in a while

[Nagishkaw 510]

[alienlovechild 75]

Someone must not have been outside the suburbs in a while

That's somewhat out-of-date now with more Hispanic and black suburbs and more white folks moving back to the cities.

[DEDixon 39]

What I see is Hispanic and Black that can't get along

true, true

In Baltimore blacks complain about Vietnamese too. So glad I'm not in Baltimore anymore.

[Danno 1,228]

They say "every dark cloud has a silver lining" (no pun intended).

For me "race" means almost nothing in who I would vote for, it's all about where they stand on issues and their track record.

I don't think any fair person could deny that Blacks voted for Obama for one reason.... HE Is Black!

I will admit, I underestimated how personally important this was for our Black citizens.

I am in Black homes on a weekly basis and I can tell you, there is not a one I go into where a framed photo of Obama is not on display.

If the election of Obama somehow helps destroy this myth that sizable numbers of Americans (whites) are blinded by racism than I suppose something good "can" come from the Obama years.

The only sober consideration is, (according to the survey) like 80% of Blacks actually believe the press is harder on Obama than past Presidents.

With absurdity like that.... I'm afraid it would not take much to erase any movement forward.

[alienlovechild 75]

I am in Black homes on a weekly basis and I can tell you, there is not a one I go into where a framed photo of Obama is not on display.

I've never heard that one before.

If the election of Obama somehow helps destroy this myth that sizable numbers of Americans (whites) are blinded by racism than I suppose something good "can" come from the Obama years.

The silly part is that blacks don't credit Obama's election for changing race relations radically in a few months. What else happened that was a more major influence?

The only sober consideration is, (according to the survey) like 80% of Blacks actually believe the press is harder on Obama than past Presidents.

It's possible no major black guy before was a serious candidate for president before so no reporters really questioned the candidate. Obama hasn't really gotten into trouble yet beyond blowing trillions of dollars but everyone is numb to wild spending in Washington. It would a lot for the press to turn on Obama so he'll probably be in power for 8 years unless the economy tanks worse.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

They say "every dark cloud has a silver lining" (no pun intended).

The only sober consideration is, (according to the survey) like 80% of Blacks actually believe the press is harder on Obama than past Presidents.

With absurdity like that.... I'm afraid it would not take much to erase any movement forward.

Can you cite that statistic?

[Twisted K 2]

They say "every dark cloud has a silver lining" (no pun intended).

For me "race" means almost nothing in who I would vote for, it's all about where they stand on issues and their track record.

I don't think any fair person could deny that Blacks voted for Obama for one reason.... HE Is Black!

I will admit, I underestimated how personally important this was for our Black citizens.

I am in Black homes on a weekly basis and I can tell you, there is not a one I go into where a framed photo of Obama is not on display.

If the election of Obama somehow helps destroy this myth that sizable numbers of Americans (whites) are blinded by racism than I suppose something good "can" come from the Obama years.

The only sober consideration is, (according to the survey) like 80% of Blacks actually believe the press is harder on Obama than past Presidents.

With absurdity like that.... I'm afraid it would not take much to erase any movement forward.

very interesting. i am black, and did not vote for Obama, so does that make me any less black? i don't think so! i don't like certain views he holds, so it is my prerogative to vote how i please. not saying i did not endure ridicule, but oh well!

[almaty 19]

what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! brother ken...........

[Danno 1,228]

They say "every dark cloud has a silver lining" (no pun intended).

The only sober consideration is, (according to the survey) like 80% of Blacks actually believe the press is harder on Obama than past Presidents.

With absurdity like that.... I'm afraid it would not take much to erase any movement forward.

Can you cite that statistic?

Thanks for pointing out my mistype, my source was from the orig posting (above) and the number was actually something like;

50% of Blacks feel the media is harder on Obama while 15% believe harder.

With whites it's the opposite.

50% of whites think he has it easier with the press and 15% believe the media is harder.

Again, thanks for pointing out my error.

[Danno 1,228]

They say "every dark cloud has a silver lining" (no pun intended).

For me "race" means almost nothing in who I would vote for, it's all about where they stand on issues and their track record.

I don't think any fair person could deny that Blacks voted for Obama for one reason.... HE Is Black!

I will admit, I underestimated how personally important this was for our Black citizens.

I am in Black homes on a weekly basis and I can tell you, there is not a one I go into where a framed photo of Obama is not on display.

If the election of Obama somehow helps destroy this myth that sizable numbers of Americans (whites) are blinded by racism than I suppose something good "can" come from the Obama years.

The only sober consideration is, (according to the survey) like 80% of Blacks actually believe the press is harder on Obama than past Presidents.

With absurdity like that.... I'm afraid it would not take much to erase any movement forward.

very interesting. i am black, and did not vote for Obama, so does that make me any less black? i don't think so! i don't like certain views he holds, so it is my prerogative to vote how i please. not saying i did not endure ridicule, but oh well!

It certainly does not make you less black but it does make you rare

I believe Black Americans voted in an astounding block of 95% for the same candidate (obama)

I think the only more solid voting block is Black women, they vote even more consistently alike (at least in Presidential elections).

Anyway, I salute you!